Newtown Middle School eighth grade art enrichment students worked on a project during an "in-house" field trip, overseen by art teachers Leigh Anne Coles and Kristen Ladue, on Friday, March 11.

The students worked to "create a door that leads to my 'peace escape' using polymer clay and applying a wide range of techniques to achieve tactile textures and different forms," according to a assignment board for the day.

Students were asked to think about how art has played a role in documenting "conflict and resistance between individuals, communities, and cultures over the course of history."

Seventh grade art enrichment students also participated in an in-house field trip on Friday, February 26, where they worked to stretch their own canvas and learned how to grid then paint "pixilated portraits."

Other questions, written on the board, that students were asked to think about were, "When we are faced with conflict and resistance, what do we do as individuals to find peace? What do we take comfort in?"

NMS counselor Sue Connelly also spoke with the eighth graders near the start of the day for a meditation session to help bring students to a "peaceful state," according to Ms Coles.

Near the end of the day, students said they were working to create "doors" to places that would remind them of the ocean, the smell of flowers, and other places.